The Pointe à Bacchus Discovery Trail

Access and starting point:
Head towards the centre of Petit-Bourg. After travelling approximately 700m along the D33 from the junction with the N1, turn left and follow signs for “Lycée des Droits de l’Homme” and “Sentier de découverte”. Drive past the main entrance to the school and, at the roundabout, turn left towards the discovery trail. Park in the car park alongside the school or at the side of the road.

Route:
The discovery trail is signposted on large dedicated posts, featuring the silhouette of a person observing (not to be confused with the silhouette of a runner found on the same posts, which corresponds to a fitness trail). N.B. There are not necessarily signposts at every junction...

(S/E) Walk past the school on your left and head up the street until you reach an information board with a map. Continue along a track that turns right and descends gently. At a crossroads, stay on the track to the left and ignore the tarmac road and alleyway to the right. After a few metres, you’ll reach a fork.

(1) Follow the track on the right. After about a hundred metres (signpost), turn right onto a grassy path that climbs gently between savannah (open grassland) and small vegetable plots. At the top (viewpoint over the sea and its islets), turn left. After about fifty metres, opposite a house, turn left and head down towards the edge of the woods.

After about 50 metres (signpost), turn right (do not follow a large red arrow indicating to continue straight ahead). Descend a steep path through the undergrowth (take care if it has rained recently) and arrive at a house that is clearly unfinished but bears the number 349B.

(2) Then turn left, leaving the house on your right. Further on, pass some abandoned tin shacks on your left. Walk alongside a mangrove area on your right and emerge into a savannah (signpost). Cross this grassy, partly bushy meadow along a faint track. Turn left and head for a clearing in the woods, which marks the path to follow. Pass some huts on your right and climb the steep path (slippery if it has rained).

At the top (huts opposite), turn right and find a marker post. Follow the path along the edge of the plateau, heading north-north-west, and pass one or two huts. The path becomes lost, blocked by vegetation and fallen trees (situation in October 2017, following Hurricane Maria).
N.B. This path is supposed to continue to the point (3) (see map); it is not known when it will be cleared.
At the junction, turn left and cross the savannah, taking care to avoid the gardens, to rejoin a track running south-north. Follow the track to the right (north) until it bends at the foot of a large tree (a mahogany, if I am not mistaken).

(3) Then follow the red-earth track due west. At a junction (signpost), continue straight ahead. Pass a few huts and start descending along the edge of the field on your left (view of the north of Basse-Terre). The path then makes a wide bend to the left.

At the bottom of the descent, at a three-way junction, turn right. Then pass marker post no. 85 on your left (beautiful trees on the left) and turn left with the path. Pass a large, solitary tree on the right, then leave some fields on your right and turn left again. Pass a clump of bamboo on the right and arrive at a junction (signpost).

(4) Continue straight ahead. Do not follow the arrow on the nature trail which directs you to the right: the path is very overgrown (very tall grass, scrub), and the going is very difficult; I advise against venturing there! So, continue eastwards between the fields. At the next junction, turn right towards a large house with a green roof. Climb gently, keeping a southerly direction, and reach the junction of the circular route.

(1) Continue straight on and follow the track taken at the start of the route back up to the school car park (S/E).

Hiking boots are recommended for the steep and potentially slippery sections. As the route crosses meadows that are partly overgrown with scrub, trousers are preferable to shorts. Although the route is partly shaded, bring sun protection depending on your sensitivity to the sun.

Remember to bring a supply of water, even though the route is short.

The nature trail is situated in an area that is both unspoilt and used for agriculture: please respect the crops, particularly the Creole gardens. The savannahs (meadows) are grazed by tethered cattle: if an animal’s range of movement includes the hiking path (see photo), remain cautious and do not make any sudden movements.

A detailed map is essential (at the very least the one accompanying this description). A compass or a GPS track on your phone may prove very useful.

Warnings:
- In October 2017, following Hurricane Maria, fallen trees are blocking the path: before (1), before (2)...: take care in the affected sections. Before (3), they force you to take a detour off the path. It is not known when the path will be cleared (major works that take time).
- Between points (2) and (3), the nature trail crosses scrubby meadows, following a barely marked track or off-trail. These sections require a good sense of direction and progress is slow. This is why this short hike has been rated as Moderate.
- As things stand, at point (4), the ‘official’ route is impassable: follow this description.

Hike completed by the author on 4 October 2017.

- Agricultural landscape, Creole gardens, grazed savannahs.
- View of the sea between (1) and (2).
- Proximity to the mangrove after (2).